William Shakespeare’s 1606 tragedy, Macbeth, is a drama depicting the destructive unbridled ambition and downfall of the tragic hero, a recognisable human flaw that contributes to the enduring value of the play. Along with the political context, Macbeth highlights that excessive and disproportionate hubris will have terrible, tragic consequences. In the beginning, Macbeth’s ambition has been fuelled by devious characters such as Lady Macbeth and the three witches; this reveals the hamartia of the protagonist and the irreversible perversion of his moral compass. Shakespeare’s intent in this play is to convey the psychological and character impact that comes with excessive power and its abuse, obsession and particularly, ambition. The reader
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The irony of Macbeth’s situation is that what destroys him – his ambition – is what has made him great leader and has the potential for making him greater. From early on in the play, Macbeth himself recognises his ambition as his “fatal flaw”. In Act 1 Scene 7 he acknowledges this, “Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself / And falls on the other.” From the beginning of the play up to the commencement of this scene, Macbeth has been seen as a nobleman; who has the potential to achieve great things. As this scene progresses, with persistent persuasion and coaxing of Lady Macbeth, Macbeth’s moral compass is slowly decomposing and eventually his human psyche. With persistent destruction to the psyche, Macbeth has potentially become a new man; from what he once was. Both in modern society and in the tragedy of Macbeth, ambition overthrows morals. The audience sees ambition run dangerously in both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, who try increasingly harder to fulfil their desires; in pursuit of this, they completely change inner psyche and mindset. Macbeth was a courageous Scottish nobleman who was not naturally inclined to commit evil deeds, yet he deeply desires power and advancement. Toward the end of the play, Macbeth descends into a frantic, boastful madness, whereas, Lady Macbeth pursues her goals with greater determination, yet she is less capable of withstanding the repercussions of her immoral acts. In Macbeth, the recurrence of blood represents the evil plans, consequences and life for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. “And on thy blood and dudgeon gouts of blood / Which was not so before. There’s no such thing:/It is the bloody business which informs thus to mine eyes.” (Act 2, Scene 1). Blood is used as an imagery device to provide insight into Macbeth’s deed he is imminently to conduct. ‘Bloody business’ referring to the murder, ‘informs thus to
The irony of Macbeth’s situation is that what destroys him – his ambition – is what has made him great leader and has the potential for making him greater. From early on in the play, Macbeth himself recognises his ambition as his “fatal flaw”. In Act 1 Scene 7 he acknowledges this, “Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself / And falls on the other.” From the beginning of the play up to the commencement of this scene, Macbeth has been seen as a nobleman; who has the potential to achieve great things. As this scene progresses, with persistent persuasion and coaxing of Lady Macbeth, Macbeth’s moral compass is slowly decomposing and eventually his human psyche. With persistent destruction to the psyche, Macbeth has potentially become a new man; from what he once was. Both in modern society and in the tragedy of Macbeth, ambition overthrows morals. The audience sees ambition run dangerously in both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, who try increasingly harder to fulfil their desires; in pursuit of this, they completely change inner psyche and mindset. Macbeth was a courageous Scottish nobleman who was not naturally inclined to commit evil deeds, yet he deeply desires power and advancement. Toward the end of the play, Macbeth descends into a frantic, boastful madness, whereas, Lady Macbeth pursues her goals with greater determination, yet she is less capable of withstanding the repercussions of her immoral acts. In Macbeth, the recurrence of blood represents the evil plans, consequences and life for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. “And on thy blood and dudgeon gouts of blood / Which was not so before. There’s no such thing:/It is the bloody business which informs thus to mine eyes.” (Act 2, Scene 1). Blood is used as an imagery device to provide insight into Macbeth’s deed he is imminently to conduct. ‘Bloody business’ referring to the murder, ‘informs thus to